The Essential Garage Door Inspection Guide
It is essential to inspect the garage door to your home routinely to prevent it from breaking down or becoming noisy. It is a convenience that can be easily ignored, but will be greatly missed if it stops functioning. It is an expensive investment and a very important unit of your home. This inspection guide should help you with the process involved to keep the door operational and make it last for many years.
Visual Checks
- Visual checks won't take very long but may prevent many problems later. Check to see if any of these issues are present before they become problems.
- Close the door and check all of the parts beginning with the track used to move the door up and down.
- Check the cables, joints, and springs to ensure they are in good condition. Observe closely for any damaged or frayed cables or wiring issues.
- Be sure the hardware is mounted securely and has no corrosion or rust on the surfaces. Identify and replace any screws or bolts, and see if any bows are present in the metal.
- Be sure to lubricate the door's parts to reduce friction or wear and tear on the unit. This should include all of the bearings, tracks, and hinges.
- The rollers may be nylon or steel, but need to be checked. If they become damaged, replace them by simply detaching the brackets, and swapping the broken roller with a new one.
- Be sure to keep the tracks clean. Remove any debris. This can cause damage to the rollers or cause the tracks to bend.
- The torsion spring should remain dry. Use light lubrication to avoid it from snapping and damaging the door. If the unit is chain-driven, be sure to also grease the chain to maintain its capability to function.
Balance the Door
Slowly, lift the door manually to see whether the door is in balance. If it is balanced, it should stay open and lift smoothly. It may not be balanced if it feels like an obstruction is present or slides down. If it is out of balance, the unit will have to work harder to function, and may eventually quit working.
Check the reverse mechanism to see if it is working correctly. Open the door and place a broom or similar piece of wood on the ground. Try to close the door. When the door reaches the wood, it should reverse automatically.
Perform these easy steps regularly to keep the garage door functioning correctly. You should also be sure the garage door surface doesn't have any warping or chipping paint. You will have a door that should operate to its maximum potential for many years of continued use by following this procedure. For professional help, contact local contractors, such as Crawford Door Company.